A recent study sheds light on Google’s cautious approach to AI-generated content.
The study analysed over 1,200 keywords and discovered that Google takes a notably careful stance when delivering AI Overviews (AIOs) for sensitive topics.
When it comes to political content, Google adopts a hands-off approach.
In today’s digital landscape, where information is just a click away, it’s essential to understand how search engines like Google handle sensitive topics. A recent study by SE Ranking sheds light on Google’s cautious approach to AI-generated content, particularly for sensitive “Your Money or Your Life” (YMYL) subjects such as health, finance, legal matters, and politics.
The study analysed over 1,200 keywords and discovered that Google takes a notably careful stance when delivering AI Overviews (AIOs) for YMYL topics. The presence of AIOs varied greatly across different categories: legal queries had the highest rate at 77.67%, followed closely by health-related searches at 65.33%. Financial topics showed a moderate AIO presence of 41.67%, while political searches had the lowest at just 16.67%.
Also read: Google’s search ad dominance facing challenges, share expected to drop below 50% by 2025
A striking finding is the use of disclaimers. The study revealed that Google often includes disclaimers in AIOs for health and finance topics. For instance, 83% of health-related AIOs advised users to consult professionals, and 63.2% of finance-related AIOs featured similar warnings. Additionally, Google tends to avoid generating AIOs for sensitive subjects, including mental health, eating disorders, substance abuse, specific medications, COVID-19, and abortion.
When it comes to political content, Google adopts a hands-off approach. Notably, no AI Overviews were triggered for keywords related to elections or presidential topics. This is a stark contrast to other AI search engines, such as OpenAI’s SearchGPT, which does respond to such queries.
Also read: Google tried to sell AdX, but EU publishers rejected the offer: Here’s why
For those focused on SEO and content creation, these insights underline the necessity of providing authoritative and well-sourced information, especially for YMYL topics. Content creators should prioritise strategies like enhancing author credibility, refining keywords, and adding disclaimers for health and finance content.
So, understanding Google’s approach to sensitive topics can help businesses navigate the complexities of digital content creation, ensuring they provide accurate and trustworthy information while adhering to best practices.
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Ayushi Jain
Tech news writer by day, BGMI player by night. Combining my passion for tech and gaming to bring you the latest in both worlds. View Full Profile
